VINTAGE SNEAKERS (FROM THE SNEAKER FREAKER VAULT)

Every year we head over to Europe for the big B&B trade show and catch up with our hombres at the Spanish Sneaker Freaker office. Like any industry event there’s a lot of gasbagging and business done by day with hard partying at night. A couple of years ago, the Limited Editions store hosted a monumental display of vintage sneakers that fried the minds of everyone who was there.

Normally you’d expect a white-walled gallery, but thanks to owner Ricky’s fertile imagination, it was held in an apartment directly above the store! This was a very nice, stylish concept and added a local flavour to proceedings that was embellished with a traditionally late Barcelona start followed by jamon, pan con tomate, local vino and even a spot of bullfighting.

Assembled from a range of sources including local collectors and even the Nike Museum in Beaverton, there was some seriously super-rare heat on view. Each room of the flat was dedicated to different eras and brands, which made discovering all the hidden gems something of a mission. The dining room played host to ‘80s and ‘90s runners with Tiger, NB, le Coq, Mizuno and Karhu all represented. Other highlights included Converse Weapons, Mavericks, Cimarrons and ERX. The lobby was looking cool where Nike held it down with OG Stabs, Pegasus, Huaraches and Bee-Dubs. And check those mighty Pythons! For some reason, the smallest room in the house was reserved for Ilie Nastase, with pairs of his adidas signature shoes floating in the bath. Who knows why?

To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming in such an intimate venue, especially when it was revealed there was another room with a further 400 pairs on display that was only for VIP guests! Holy paella! Then add another 300 vintage pairs that were for sale and you have some idea of the epic scale of this experience. In the immortal words of Ricky, the show was a ‘dream library’ and we couldn’t agree more. Thanks to Limited Editions and everyone who contributed to the show, hopefully this show becomes an annual!

THANKS TO…Sofia Marsó and family for the use of the house…
Our good friend Emmanuel who helped explain the history of the shoes. He is a good somelier of Vintage…
The collectors – Simbad /Amador – Juan Pablo - Josep maria – Atanasio – Reks – Richi Non Stop
All the customers of the shop and Zapapedia, Suelas de Goma, Crooked Tongues
Sneaker collector España crew – Rex23aj, Jumi, Pablo Jordan, SoloJordan etc
Nike, Converse, Saucony, Puma
Photos by Xavi Montojo
Photos by Maria Joa~o Andrade